The Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986

Further provisions as to persons remanded by magistrates' courts N.I.

58.—(1) This Article has effect where a transfer direction has been given in respect of any such person as is described in sub-paragraph (b) of Article 54(2); and that person is in this Article referred to as “the accused”.

(2) Subject to paragraph (5), the transfer direction shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period of remand unless the accused is committed in custody to the Crown Court for trial or to be otherwise dealt with.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), the power of further remanding the accused may be exercised by the magistrates' court without his being brought before the court; and if the court further remands the accused in custody (whether or not he is brought before the court) the period of remand shall, for the purposes of this Article, be deemed not to have expired.

(4) The court shall not under paragraph (3) further remand the accused in his absence unless he has appeared before the court within the previous 6 months.

(5) If the magistrates' court is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of the responsible medical officer—

(a) that the accused no longer requires treatment in hospital for mental disorder; or

(b) that no effective treatment for his disorder can be given in the hospital to which he has been removed,

the court may direct that the transfer direction shall cease to have effect notwithstanding that the period of remand has not expired or that the accused is committed to the Crown Court as mentioned in paragraph (2).

(6) If the accused is committed to the Crown Court as mentioned in paragraph (2) and the transfer direction has not ceased to have effect under paragraph (5), Article 57 shall apply as if the transfer direction given in his case were a direction given in respect of a person falling within that Article.

(7) The magistrates' court may, in the absence of the accused, conduct a F1 ... preliminary inquiry into an offence alleged to have been committed by him and commit him for trial in accordance with Article 37 of the [1981 NI 26] Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 if—

(a) the court is satisfied on the written or oral evidence of the responsible medical officer, that the accused is unfit to take part in the proceedings; and

(b) the accused is represented by counsel or a solicitor.

F1 Words in art. 58(7) repealed (17.10.2022) by Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 4), s. 5(2), Sch. para. 9; S.R. 2022/221, art. 2(d)